INTERVIEWS

	Michaels made an impression on former teachers, classmates
	By Kevin Cullen, Lafayette Journal and Courier
	Tom Prill worked with thousands of young actors during 35 years as drama teacher at Jefferson High School. But Tammy Doring -- now TV actress Tammy Lynn Michaels -- stood out. "I thought, and I still think, that she is probably one of the most talented young ladies I ever worked with," says Prill, of Lafayette. Others who knew Michaels as a kid say they felt the same way. The Lafayette native graduated from Jeff in 1993 and moved to New York City at 18 to pursue an acting career. Now 30, she plays a nanny named Tess on the NBC sitcom Committed. From 1999 until 2001, she appeared on the Warner Brothers series Popular. She is the spouse of rock superstar Melissa Etheridge. Prill says he watches Committed "religiously." "I think she deserves a better show than she has, and I wish they would make her the lead instead of a featured player," he says. Michaels, who lives in Los Angeles, grew up with her mother and sister on Beck Lane. She was active in Jefferson Players, Experimental Theatre and The Expressions choir."She brought a presence that most high school people don't have," Prill says. "She was very poised and centered ... she hit the nail on the head every time." Michaels was every director's dream. "There was no part she felt was beneath her, and there was no part above her, from the stupidest thing to the most serious thing," Prill says. "She always wanted to be an actress," he says. "She not only expressed it, she was one of the few who had drive enough to go for it. A lot of them want to do it, but they don't want to sacrifice. She did." Michaels has a "heart of gold," he says. When he suffered a stroke, she visited him in the hospital. "She never looked back, always looked forward," he says. "I am so proud to be able to know her." Heather Screen of West Lafayette is Michaels' cousin and a best friend. Even as a kid, Michaels was "the life of the party," she says. "When we got together, she was always so fun, kind of crazy. We'd sing and dance and goof around." She has "that special something. I'm not sure what it is; it's an intangible thing," Screen says. She marvels at Michaels' desire and commitment. "When she sets her mind to something, she will follow that path and do it, no matter what," Screen says. "She just keeps plugging and plugging away ... She is very friendly, outgoing and personable, but she won't let people walk all over her." Chris Foresman, of Lafayette, was a member of Jefferson Players with Michaels. He remembers her as a talented actress, "with a lot of drive and ambition. She was getting her card in the actor's union and going to workshops even then. I'm not surprised that she's acting on TV; I'm surprised she is not even more successful." He remembers her portrayal of Roxane in Cyrano de Bergerac. "It was amazing. There were times when I was almost in tears, it was so incredible," Foresman says. Former Jeff student Jeff Holmes of Lafayette remembers Michaels as "kind of distant," tempermental, and totally committed to leaving Lafayette. "If someone had said she'd have her own TV series, people would have scoffed," he says. " ... It blows me away everything she has gotten in life. I'm totally glad she has gotten it. It gives younger people something to shoot for." Marcy Miller was Michaels' eighth-grade music teacher at Tecumseh Middle School. "She has so much energy and enthusiasm for anything that she is involved with," Miller says. "In my music class, she was the ultimate student, doing any bit of extra credit she could do." She remembers Michaels acting out a dramatic part when the class studied the opera Carmen. "She loved doing that. It was right up her alley," Miller says. "That was the year that the choir performed excerpts from Cats, and it went down to Indianapolis to see the touring company of Cats. Of course, she was just enthralled with that." Michaels babysat for the Millers, traveled with them, and helped them plan parties. "I have had very few students become a part of my personal life," Miller says. "That continued when she went to New York. We stayed in touch through phone calls. When there was happy news, she called me, and when there was heartbreaking news, she called me. We have laughed and cried for many years." Miller was part of Michaels' wedding. They continue to exchange e-mails, and Miller watches her on TV. Michaels' biting lines, she says, "are in no way representative of her real personality. I think she plays those parts because of her great comedic timing and delivery." "I'm sure this is just the beginning. There are bigger roles for her," Miller says. Peggy Morgan was Michaels' seventh-grade language arts teacher at Tecumseh. Michaels was in a class for gifted and talented students, which Morgan still teaches. "It requires quite a bit of dramatic interpretation, a lot of skits. She stood out from the beginning," Morgan says. "She had a lot of facial expression and verbal intonation. She was able to take different characters and individualize them." Michaels had never acted in elementary school plays or summer programs. "I said, 'Maybe you ought to try to get involved in that. You would have fun in that,' " Morgan recalls. That led to summer acting camp, where Michaels decided to become a professional actress. "Tammy is a worker. That is what I remember about her," Morgan says. "She is very bright, with a very strong work ethic. And she's funny, with a great sense of humor, way beyond her years. "I told her, 'You have the ability and the talent you need. Go for it.' " Even now, "I think there is more room for her to grow and become recognized," Morgan says. "I'm happy she has gone on and become successful, and I hope she goes right on. It's tough to knock that kid down."